The architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry is embracing a growth mindset. Many firms are reporting double-digit increases in both revenue and staffing. But that growth brings new challenges, particularly in how to win more work without overextending limited business development and marketing resources.
In a recent LinkedIn Live discussion, we explored how artificial intelligence (AI) is supporting firms in this moment. They’re doing this not by replacing people, but by giving them the tools to perform at their best.
That’s where AI enters the conversation.
A clear trend: AI is gaining traction in BD and marketing
According to Unanet’s 2025 AEC Inspire Report, nearly 75% of AEC firms are already using or plan to use AI in their business development (BD) and marketing operations within the next year. As competition intensifies, AI is becoming a meaningful differentiator for firms looking to increase both proposal volume and quality without expanding their teams.
The real pain points AI addresses
Firms identified two major hurdles in the pursuit and proposal lifecycle. The first is early-stage qualification. Often, teams chase the wrong opportunities because they lack the necessary intel up front. That leads to wasted time and resources on pursuits that were never a good fit. The second hurdle is proposal efficiency. Responding to requests for proposals (RFPs) remains a time-consuming process, involving significant hours across departments each year, with little to no improvement in win rates.
Smarter pursuits with OpportuneAI
Unanet’s OpportuneAI helps firms make better decisions earlier in the process. It helps answer critical questions such as whether the firm has worked with a specific customer before, if they have similar successful projects in their portfolio, and whether they are truly competitive in a given space. By surfacing relevant internal data from past projects and company-wide expertise, BD teams can focus their efforts where they matter most and avoid investing in low-probability opportunities.
Proposals that practically write themselves with Unanet ProposalAI
Unanet ProposalAI helps eliminate inefficiencies by automating key proposal development tasks. These include shredding RFPs for key details and compliance requirements, building compliant outlines, mapping proposal content to similar past work, and retrieving approved narratives from a central knowledge base. This means teams are no longer starting from scratch. They can begin with drafts that are already largely complete, which gives them more time to focus on tailoring language and telling a more compelling, differentiated story.
AI that works the way you do
Unanet ProposalAI is designed with AEC workflows in mind. It operates securely in a private environment and continues to learn from each firm's best proposal content. Rather than replacing the current process, it enhances it by making it more efficient and less dependent on manual work.
People-first tech for long-term growth
Adopting AI isn't just about getting more done. It’s also about improving employee experience. By reducing the grind of repetitive tasks, AI allows marketing and proposal professionals to focus on higher-value, more rewarding work. That improves job satisfaction and retention, and it lays the foundation for sustainable growth across the firm.
